S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  10185

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              May 10, 2012
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. QUART -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Ways and Means

AN ACT to amend the abandoned property law and the state technology law,
  in relation to unclaimed funds

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 1402 of the aban-
doned  property  law is relettered paragraph (c) and a new paragraph (b)
is added to read as follows:
  (B) IN ADDITION TO THE LIST REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVI-
SION, EACH SEPTEMBER AND MARCH, THE STATE COMPTROLLER SHALL PUBLISH IN A
NEWSPAPER, AS PROVIDED BY SECTION ONE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED TEN OF  THIS
ARTICLE,  A  STATEMENT  OF  ABANDONED  PROPERTY  PAID TO AND HELD BY THE
STATE, FOR THE RESPECTIVE ANNUAL PERIODS JUNE  FIRST,  THROUGH  NOVEMBER
THIRTIETH  AND DECEMBER FIRST, THROUGH MAY THIRTY-FIRST.  EACH AND EVERY
TIME THE COMPTROLLER PUBLISHES SUCH A STATEMENT, HE OR SHE SHALL INCLUDE
A NOTICE THAT READERS MAY OBTAIN A LARGE PRINT  COPY  OF  THE  UNCLAIMED
FUNDS  LIST  BY  WRITING  THE  COMPTROLLER'S  OFFICE  OR  HAVE  A SEARCH
CONDUCTED FOR THEM BY CALLING A  DESIGNATED  NUMBER.  THIS  NOTICE  MUST
APPEAR  IN  TYPEFACE  AND  FONT-SIZE  ESTABLISHED  BY THE NEW YORK STATE
OFFICE FOR TECHNOLOGY TO ASSIST THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED  AND  INCLUDE  THE
PHONE  NUMBER  AND  MAILING  ADDRESS TO THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF THE
STATE COMPTROLLER, OFFICE OF UNCLAIMED FUNDS.
  S 2. Subdivision 1 of section 1416 of the abandoned property  law,  as
added by chapter 173 of the laws of 1980, is amended to read as follows:
  1. No agreement to locate property held by the comptroller pursuant to
this chapter shall be valid unless that agreement:
  (a) is in writing and signed by the property owner;
  (b) discloses the nature of the property; [and]
  (c) discloses the name and address of the holder; AND
  (D)  INCLUDES  LANGUAGE, ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE COMPTROLLER, STATING
THAT THE FUNDS HELD BY THE STATE  CAN  BE  OBTAINED  DIRECTLY  FROM  THE
OFFICE  OF  THE  COMPTROLLER  BY ITS OWNER WITHOUT PAYING A FEE AND THAT
THESE FUNDS WILL BE HELD INDEFINITELY.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD00678-03-2

A. 10185                            2

  S 3. Section 103 of the state technology law is amended  by  adding  a
new subdivision 18 to read as follows:
  18.  TO  CONSULT  WITH  THE COMMISSION ON THE BLIND AND VISUALLY HAND-
ICAPPED TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS FOR TYPEFACE AND
FONT SIZE TO ASSIST THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED.
  S 4. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth  day  after  it  shall
have become a law.